• Quebec is located in eastern Canada.
• A large part of Canadian industry is centered in Quebec.
• Many electronics and computer factories are based
here.
• French is the official language of business and
government in Quebec.
• 81% of the people speak French as their 1st
language.
• Canada was originally colonized by the French (fur
trade).
• Great Britain wanted part of the fur trade, so they
fought & won the French and Indian War.
• They divided Canada into Upper Canada (British)
and Lower Canada (French).
• “Lower Canada” is now called Quebec.
• Canada was united in 1867 with the British North
America Act.
• Quebec is still predominately French.
• Most French Canadian families had been living
in Quebec for hundreds of years.
• They spoke French & had a different culture
than English-speaking Canadians.
• The majority lived on farms and rarely left
their villages.
• Most French Canadians were Catholic, while the
majority of British Canadians were Protestant.
• The idea of a separate French Canada spread
slowly.
• At first, most French Canadians did not think
that Quebec needed independence just to be
French.
• By the 1960s, however, thinking had changed…
• Many French Canadians had become Quebec
nationalists & thought of themselves as
Quebecois, not Canadians.
• By this time, Quebec had changed in many ways…
• Growing populations pushed into farmlands and rural
people grew poor.
• Many chose to leave farms and move to cities.
• Their lives were very different now.
• They stopped going to Catholic churches.
• They no longer led a traditional lifestyle.
• English was spoken in most cities, while French
was not.
• Many French Canadians felt that their language
and culture might disappear.
• French culture was overwhelmed by English.
• They were tired of feeling like second-class
citizens in their own country.
• Most started to think that Quebec should secede
from Canada (be independent).
• Separatists--want Quebec to “separate” from
Canada.
• Those who support Quebec separatism want:
• to protect French language and culture
• to be treated as equals with English-speaking
Canadians
• other Canadians to respect French language
and culture
• to preserve French Canadian culture for future
generations
• Those who oppose Quebec separatism argue
that separatism would:
• result in economic disaster for Quebec,
• Ruin national unity and pride, &
• Make the rest of Canada lose all of
Quebec’s natural resources.
• In 1980 & 1995, the people of Quebec voted
whether or not to secede.
• Both votes were in favor of staying Canadian.
• Last vote--49.4% voted to secede and 50.6%
voted to stay Canadian…wow!
• Close results showed that the relationship
between Quebec and the rest of Canada will
continue to be a controversial issue.
• Canada’s government does not want to allow
Quebec to separate from Canada because Quebec:
• Is a huge economic help to country,
• Is rich in natural resources, &
• Has access to many waterways (shipping &
trade).
• The government has made several reforms in an
attempt to keep separatists happy.
• Canada’s government has passed several laws to
help Quebec’s citizens preserve their language and
culture.
• In 1982, the Constitution Act made Canada
bilingual.
• 1. Two official languages (English & French)
• 2. All government documents must be written
in French & English
• French is the only official language.
• English may be used in advertising, but it must
be placed after the French words, and it must
be smaller font.
• Some people are happy with these changes, but
other people still believe that Quebec should be
independent from the rest of Canada.